2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Cup of China Men's Short Program LIVE BLOG

1) Jialiang Wu (CHN)
     Music: Poeta en el puerto

• Good triple-triple to start things off
• The Chinese Men have always been good jumpers, where he'll be lacking is in the components mark
• I really liked his music choice
• Sorry for the lack of commentary, my feed cut out mid-program

SP Score: 37.35 (TES) + 27.71 (PCS) = 65.06

2) Nan Song (CHN)
     Music: Requiem for a Dream

• NICE QUAD
• He too is a very strong jumper but will be lacking in the components mark
• This is a big day for the Chinese men, they don't get much international exposure
• Good effort on the footwork
• I hate that butt in the air spin
• The home crowd will love that!

SP Score: 41.38 (TES) + 31.34 (PCS) = 72.72

3) Richard Dornbush (USA)
     Music: The Fifth

• Come on Ricky (my mom loves him!)
• Ricky start, fall right off the top
• Hand down on the triple axel
• He had really awesome speed
• I appreciate that he is really going after the program, but he looks a little wild out there, there are times when you need to reign it in
• That being said I do like this program and he needs to find the appropriate intensity level, he'll get there by Nationals

SP Score: 31.50 (TES) +32.43  (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 62.93

4) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)
     Music: Chambermaid Swing

• Look for some big Quad action to come
• Nice toe-tapping footwork to start off
• 4s-3t like it was nothing
• His hair is too much for me, I just can't stop thinking of Frodo
• Wild turn out of the triple axel, tries to save it and does a few turns and puts a hand down
• I like that knee down entry into the triple lutz
• He has moments of performance, but slips in and out a lot
• His spins really hold him back, he'd do well to work with somebody like Lambiel or Buttle to teach him some artistry

SP Score: 31.36 (TES) +32.95  (PCS) = 64.31

5) Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)
     Music: Etude in D sharp minor patetico

• Only 16, a baby in Men's figure skating but so strong already
• I love this program
• 4toe!!
• Really nice triple axel, he has really good flow on the edges out of his jumps
• He looks like Johnny Weir out there in that donut spin in baby blue
• Huge 3f-3t
• Really beautiful footwork
• Good sit spin variations, I like the arms out at the sides
• He is really something special, he has a bit of polishing to do but I bet anything he'll be a World champ someday

SP Score: 44.93 (TES) + 36.44 (PCS) = 81.37

6) Jeremy Abbott (USA)
     Music: Bei mir bist du schoen, Swing Kids

• Nice opening choreography
• 3f-3t
• I hope we'll see a Quad later this season
• Solid triple axel
• I'm obsessed with the toe point in the sit spin!!
• I'm no fan of Benji Schwimmer but this is really good choreography, not a second is wasted
• Funky landing out of that triple lutz
• I like the costume too, it's understated

SP Score: 40.39 (TES) +38.93  (PCS) = 79.32

7) Artur Gachinski (RUS)
     Music: Saint Louis Blues

• Quad-triple, messy and slanted in the air just like his idol Plushenko
• That was a very ugly spread eagle into that triple axel
• That broken leg camel spin is horrendous looking, as is that wrapped sit spin
• I feel about this like I feel about a Plushenko program; good jumps, not much else happening

SP Score: 44.63 (TES) + 37.01 (PCS) = 81.64

8) Nobunari Oda (JPN)
      Music: Memphis Soul Stew

• Gigantic triple axel, he has the softest knees of any skater I've seen
• Nice big triple-triple
• But where is the Quad?
• Loved that little West Side Story jump!
• Triple flip
• He has the springiest legs I've ever seen, like Tigger
• Perfect technique on the jumps, and more performance than I'v seen from him in a while

SP Score: 39.68 (TES) + 37.97 (PCS) = 77.65